A group of residents in Arkley have purchased an installed a wall-mounted defibrillator for use in any medical emergency that might occur within their own community or wider neighbourhood.
Defibrillators in some locations are often not available in the evening or at weekends when public buildings are closed.
Rockways -- a cul-de-sac just off the main road between Barnet and Arkley -- now has its own defibrillator available to the public and ready for use 24/7. It is inside a cabinet which is illuminated at night.
Residents in the four surrounding roads, who raised £2,500 to meet the cost of the installation and maintenance, have been issued with the key code to unlock the cabinet and to access the defibrillator.
Paramedics, ambulance staff and other medical professionals will all be able to find the location – and have access to the key code – via the UK’s National Defibrillator Network which has been established by the British Heart Foundation, the NHS and other health authorities.
At a neighbourly ceremony to launch the defibrillator, a ribbon was cut by Ian Reed, who volunteered to have the installation on the garden wall to his home, which is a few houses along Rockways from its junction with Barnet Road.
Judith Heinemam (far right, above), who helped to organise the fund raising with neighbours Mel Garfield and Sue Rich, paid tribute for all the support they had been given by residents in the four roads in their immediate locality – Rockways, Wylo Drive, Dingle Close, and Windmill Lane.
Judith thanked Mr Reed (far right, above) for agreeing to the installation on his garden wall and providing a connection to the electricity supply.
Joining them at the launch were two electricians, Amnon and Ronnie Shimoni (far left) from RS Electricals, Edgware, who installed the defibrillator free of charge.
The residents organised their appeal because the defibrillator at Arkley village hall and pavilion in Brick Lane is only available when the buildings are open to the public – otherwise the closest available 24/7 is at Barnet Hospital.
This is not the residents’ first community initiative: in December 2021 they unveiled three “Welcome to Arkley Village” signs at either end of Barnet Road and a third at a road junction in Rowley Lane. The signs include an image of Arkley’s historic windmill.
Last year they held a party to mark the King’s coronation and the money they raised started the fund to purchase the defibrillator.
Their next event – being organised jointly with The Scarecrows from St Peter’s church and the Arkley Association – is an Arkley community fair and dog show at the village hall and green on Saturday 18 May.
Sue Rich liaised with the British Heart Association to provide residents with useful information on cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of defibrillators.
In just 15 minutes people can learn how to save a life. All they need is a mobile phone or table and a cushion to practice on:
https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/how-to-do-cpr/learn-cpr-in-15-minutes
Sue said residents were keen to spread awareness of their defibrillator and its 24/7 availability.
“Our defibrillator has been registered on The Circuit which is the UK’s defibrillator network (NDN). The BHF link joins forces with the NHS and other health authorities to build a defibrillator network, meaning ambulance services can locate defibrillators to treat people who suffer cardiac arrest.
“Our local ambulance services will now know the location and availability of our device and have access to our key code for our locked cabinet. They will also provide maintenance and support etc. The fact that our defibrillator will be available 24/7 is a key feature for local emergency use.”
